January 26, 2008

Bonamego, Carmichael Heading to Miami?

Reports out of Miami indicate that the new Miami coaching staff under Tony Sparano will include two current Saints coaches.

Special teams coach John Bonamego and quarterbacks coach Pete Carmichael, Jr. are linked to jobs in Miami.

Bonamego, who came to New Orleans in 2006 from the same job at Green Bay, will reportedly join the Dolphins in the same capacity.

The 2007 Saints were 26th in kickoff return average, 22nd in punt return average. The Saints were one of 10 teams not to score a touchdown on a kickoff or punt return. The Saints allowed 22 yards per kickoff return, 11th in the league and better than both Super Bowl teams. They allowed 9.6 yards per punt return, 19th in the league. The Saints gave up one kickoff and one punt return touchdown.

Carmichael, Jr., who was a quality control coach for San Diego and a quarterbacks coach at Louisiana Tech for a decade before joining the Saints in 2006, has been offered the offensive coordinator job in Miami. The promotion would be a quick ascendance for the 36-year old coaching prospect, who has worked with Drew Brees in two cities and under Sean Payton for the past two years. Carmichael, Jr. also worked under Sparano.

Should Carmichael, Jr. accept, that creates two openings in Payton's coaching staff. One coach has already left and his job been filled, when Marion Hobby left for Duke and Ed Orgeron arrived to coach the defensive line.

Notes: Former Saints head trainer Dean Kleinschmidt, who was with the franchise for 31 years, has been inducted into the Senior Bowl Hall of Fame. Kleinschmidt has also been the Senior Bowl's head trainer for the past 37 years... In the inaugural AAFL Draft, former Saints backup DE Scott Scharff was selected in the second round by Team Alabama. The AAFL starts their first season in April with a 10-game schedule featuring six teams: Texas, Michigan, Arkansas, Tennessee, Florida and Alabama... Former Saints draft pick Mel Mitchell has been placed on injured reserve with a biceps injury by the Patriots. The special teamer won't get to play in the Super Bowl...